This morning I drove out to Scott Brothers Bolt and Screw, picked up some stainless cutlass bearing set screws. Then I drove to Capitol City Bolt and Screw to get some new hub set bolts to keep the shafts from backing out in reverse, and new hub bolts.
Shortly after I got to the boat, we fired up the diesel truck and backed er into the water. Sure was sweet firing up the motors and feeling those new props for the first time. I drove over to the gas dock and took on $450 worth of fuel (ouch!). Thankfully we get a 25% discount at our club, and it's true marine 93 octane.
Here I am a few hours ago about to hose down the boat. It got dirty out there in the parking lot. I can't even think how many times I went up and down the darn ladder.
And then I couldn't resist. Out I went alone for a speed run. VERY IMPRESSED with the props. I notice a lot of difference. Very smooth, up on a plane with little effort. John Clemans wrote an article in Motor Boating August edition, just released to mail subscribers, about 3 vs 4-blade. His test was done on a Bertram deep V, and the 38 Commander is a much faster (almost 10-mph) hull. His results were higher speed at the same rpm in the midrange. In otherwords, at 2000 rpm he was going faster with 4 blade than he was at 2000 rpm and 3 blade. Naturally the 4-blade during the test was one inch less pitch, according to routine.
I didn't do any top speed runs, but I'm not interested in ultimate top speed. I do really appreciate the smoothness, and I can get them better with more engine alignment adjustment. I like the way the boat effortlessly moves with a touch of the throttles now, and backing into the slip seemed to be with a little more control too. My over impression, I like em a lot.
This project cost estimates:
New props roughly $1000 each
New shafts $600 each
New strut bearings $100 each
Hub machining $70
Copper Bronze $190 per gal (two gal used).
Misc Interlux paint and thinner, rollers, brushes $100
Misc bolts $20
Truck rental (due to broken axle at our club truck) $125
Tips and beer for my buddies $100
Tool rental and other misc "stuff" $50
Total "approx" $4245
Had I had this done in a shop, including having them buy the props and shafts, etc., and do all labor, I have NO DOUBT the invoice would have around $9000. I also don't think the work would have been as well done, either. Being able to do it yourself is not only a lot of fun and satisfaction, you are getting the job as well as you chose to do it. The buck stops with you!
This has been enjoyable, but we couldn't really kick back and savor the fact that we were at the marina working on a Commander too much. The problem was the nearly 100-degree heat. As a result, I drank lots of Gatorade, beer, and water, not necessarily in that order, and I physically could not work the whole day. Around 3:30 it just got so hot it was like jumping off a cliff.
Why did I do this in July? Well those props were ordered a LONG time ago, they arrived and I had a lot of social and work obligations, and another guy got in front of me on the boat ramp, etc., and as a result when the opportunity finally came, I just took it.
Glad to be back on the water!
Regards, Paul
FXA 38 3004 R
Original 427 power